Good Vibrations

I would like to sent out a kudos to Kate for introducing me to GrooveShark.com this weekend, hereby giving me the good vibrations necessary to organize the study.

The study is Ben's man cave. When we moved to the house and decided to set up the computer in there, I told Ben that it was his room to decorate in anyway he desired. So, the study has 6 swords, 3 chain mail shirts, 2 crossbows, and one huge felt poster that serves as a tribute to Ghengis Khan. Oh...and a considerably ugly monkey lamp that Ben cherishes from his bachelor days that would mean the-end-of-our-happy marriage if I threw it out.

I have learned not to mind the decor - but I still can not stand the mess. So, Friday and Saturday, armed with several trash bags and boxes, I cleaned the poop out of the study. (I mean, figuratively, not literally...ha ha.) Several strategic decisions helped to make this a productive time.

1st. Focus on the trash and eliminate clutter. (See the Clutter Test below). The first 20 minutes, concentrate on whatever you can immediately throw out. When you fill up a trash bag, immediately take it out to the trash can. Ta da! Several stacks of papers, old newspapers (or, in my case, beer cans) that you don't have to worry about anymore.

2nd. Focus on the big material articles. Ben had his chain mail shirts and implements strewn across the floor - as soon as I found a box and a shelf for them, I had cleared 1/5th of the floor area.

3rd. Organize paperwork in stages. We had a 12 inch pile of old mail and paperwork loading down my 'desk.' Start with a trash sack for the junk and two boxes. Label one box FILING and the other box SHREDDING. Eliminate the junk mail and extra papers (for example, you don't need to keep the envelopes for bills once you've paid them.) After eliminating the junk you can take a break and move to filing when you're ready. Shred LAST and double check to make sure you don't need the records!

4th. Play music. Take breaks. Walk away from the room. If you start getting frustrated - stop what you are doing and move to something different. Being positive is a huge part of being productive.

In order to be a CEO, I have to have a work space. I didn't realize how much a messy work space affects my productivity until I walked into the study to write a short letter this morning. I had everything I needed within easy reach and could focus on what I needed to get done, not the tools needed to do it. I'm starting to believe that a home must have a 'professional' work space. It may be a drawer in the kitchen where you organize the mail and keep all the spare keys, but it's got to be there for your sanity. It's so much easier to sit down at a desk with everything near me than to write on the dining room table with a mad frenzy to find paper or cards, a pen, envelopes, stamps, files for reference...etc!

Grooveshark + clean study = good vibrations. Ready to rock out!